Bebe Winans I Really Miss You

Winans recalled the late pop star’s warmth, enthusiasm and generosity before singing “I Really Miss You” Saturday at Houston’s funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church where Houston sang as a child and teen.

The Grammy Award-winning singer’s dark-colored casket with metallic accents was covered in a huge spray of white flowers and placed in the front of the church.

Standing behind it, and with his sister CeCe beside him, Winans said of Houston: “We spent a lot of time together and we talk about her voice and we talk about her talent and that’s a beautiful thing. But what I’m going to miss is crazy Whitney.”

Spurred on by the applause of hundreds of mourners gathered at the church, Winans recalled how, when he and his sister were getting ready for their first tour, Houston went without being asked and bought them and their backup singers costumes, then announced she was going to sing background for them. Winans said he and CeCe told Houston she couldn’t leave her hugely successful solo career to help them out, but Houston assured them she loved them like her own brother and sister and wanted to help.

“And this is what I’m going to miss,” Winans said. “She said: ‘Y’all are broke, right? And I’m rich, right? So I can buy what I want to for y’all.’ But that is Whitney.”

A private viewing of Houston’s body was held Friday evening at Whigham Funeral Home in Newark. Among those who attended the wake Friday were Houston’s mother Cissy, her 18-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, her cousin Dionne Warwick and her mentor Clive Davis.

The group reunited Saturday afternoon for her funeral. Also seen entering the church were Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, R. Kelly, Star Jones, Forest Whitaker, Diane Sawyer, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Mary J. Blige.

The music-filled service kicked off with a joyous song performed by the the church’s choir, the members of which were all beautifully dressed in white clothing.

Aretha Franklin, Houston’s godmother, was set to sing, but canceled Saturday morning because she was suffering from leg spasms.

Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys sang during the service, while music producer Clive Davis, filmmaker Tyler Perry and actor Kevin Costner, Houston’s co-star in the 1992 blockbuster “The Bodyguard,” also shared a few words of remembrance about her during the funeral.

Recalling how Houston was at times insecure on the film’s set, despite her extraordinary beauty and talent, Costner addressed her coffin and said affectionately: “Off you go, Whitney. Off you go, escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father and when you sing before him don’t you worry, you’ll be good enough.”

UsMagazine.com said it confirmed an invitation had been extended to actor-director Mel Gibson by the singer’s family out of appreciation for his attempts to help Houston with her addictions to drugs and alcohol. He was not at the service because of prior commitments.